Austin J. Young

Before I say anything, I want to thank all of you who are reading, for your prayers and support of us, seminarians. It means so much. My journey toward the seminary was very gradual. I think the idea of being a priest was always with me. Beyond that was a cherished friendship with the Lord. When I was a teenager, I was blessed enough to be allowed to go fishing in my neighbor’s lake. I loved fishing very much… and still do. More than that, I enjoyed being in the boat, on quiet evenings, and just talking with God like a friend. I remember when I was this age, I wrote something in my desk drawer at home that said, “why are You following me? I should be following You.” Fast forward around 12 years later, I was working as a manufacturing engineer, and started asking myself deep questions about life. If I was honest with God and myself, being a priest was a possibility. In the end, the question I was asking was… “what could it hurt? Let’s give this a try!” There are so many little signs along the way that have brought me here to the seminary. I give credit to my family for showing me what love is… and Who love is. I give credit to God, and His generous mercy that not only forgives sins, but encourages as well! May God’s loving Will be done in my life, and yours.